The FEI Worldcup finals were set to be exciting and suspense. Today the 30 best combinations took the start of the past days. In the finals the jumps were built 1.60m heigh and the class was competed over two rounds. In the first round only seven pairs managed to keep it clear. The best 20 combinations followed for the second round.
Only until the final three riders took the start the cards were dealt. Until that moment Sweden's Jens Fredricson was on top of the interim ranking with his 11-year-old Markan Cosmopolit (Cohiba 1198). Reigning European Champion, Martin Fuchs followed at the start with his trusted Chaplin (Verdi TN). The pair made a clear finish taking over the lead and driving up the heat for Harrie Smolders and McLain Ward who followed at the start.
Aboard his 13-year-old Monaco (Cassini II) Harrie Smolders followed with 4 points at the start. The pair jumped one plank down, resulting with an overal of 8 points claiming the Silver medal. It was USA's McLain Ward who could change the stage, but with some faults unfortunately the USA rider and his Contagious placed back to the eight spot, leaving the gold in hands of Fuchs, silver in hands of Smolders and bronze for Fredricsson.
First Clear rounds shake the cards
Title defender, Steve Guerdat was the first who set a clear finish in the first round and started with a nice position aboard his 13-year-old Victorio Des Frotards. With one extra jumping fault the pair at that moment placed on equal height with John Whitaker. With a better time they however took over the lead. (Eventually settling for 11th).
At the start it was Ireland's Conor Swail who followed. The number one of the North American Worldcup ranking was ready to impress in his first World Cup finals with Count Me In. The pair made a clear finish but saw two time penalties on the board referring Steve Guerdat after them in the tables.
Austria's Max Kühner followed with his 11-year-old Elektric Blue P (Eldorado vd Zeshoek). The past days the pair had the final fence down and also this time they finished with four points.
Three times Belgium champion Jos Verlooy and Luciano van het Geinsteinde took over the arena and made a swift start. They had some luck jumping into the triple combination, but this unfortunately translated in a fault jumping out of the combination. With 16 points the Belgium showjumper took over the interim third spot, and eventually placed 10th.
It was waiting for Germany's David Will and C Vier (Cardento) to take over the lead after a clear round, keeping the total score on ten points. But short after Jens Fredriccson and Markan Cosmopolit jumped in front of them, eventually placing third.